COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State men’s soccer team is set to travel to Rutgers for a Big Ten match at 1 p.m. Sunday in Piscataway, N.J. The first-place Buckeyes (5-1-0, 2-0 B1G) will look to extend its shutout win streak to five-consecutive matches against the Scarlet Knights (1-4-1, 0-2 B1G). The match will be streamed on BTN Plus ($).

The Buckeyes have recorded four-consecutive shutouts (second-most in school history).

The Scarlet and Gray are holding opponents to 10.3 shots per game and only 1.75 shots on goal per game.

Jackson-Ketchup was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, while Siegfried was honored as Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week Sept. 5.

The Buckeyes return four starters from the 2016 squad and welcome 18 newcomers. Fifteen of the 18 newcomers are freshmen.

Two rookies have started in all six contests, including Jackson-Ketchup and Will Hirschman.

The Scarlet and Gray bring back their leading point scorer in senior forward Nate Kohl, a second team All-Big Ten selection with 14 points (6g, 2a), a year ago. Mohamed, honored as a second team selection, also returns after scoring 11 points (4g, 3a). Siegfried is back after earning All-Big Ten Freshmen honors in 2016.

The Buckeyes were picked seventh in the Big Ten preseason poll. Maryland was the preseason favorite followed by Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan and Penn State.

Robertson joined Kohl and Mohamed on the Big Ten Preseason Honor List.

The 2017 incoming class ranked seventh in the country by College Soccer News. The Buckeyes were one of four schools in the nation to have three straight Top 10 classes along with North Carolina, Wake Forest and Virginia. The group hails from three different countries, while five members are natives of Ohio. The incoming Buckeyes feature seven defenders, five forwards, four midfielders and two goalkeepers.

BREAKING DOWN THE STREAK

With four-consecutive shutouts, the Buckeyes are off to their best start to a season in 12 years (5-1-0).

Ohio State is first in the league standings with six points at 2-0 in conference play.

Ohio State is one shutout shy of tying the program-record for consecutive shutouts, which was set by the 2007 College Cup squad (5).

All five wins have been clean sheets in 2017.

The Buckeyes rank first in the country in shutout percentage (0.830).

Parker Siegfried is first in the nation in shutouts (5) and third in the league in goals-against average (0.30).

The OSU defense is holding opponents to 8.5 shots per game and only 1.75 shots on goal per game. The backline has allowed only two shots on goal in the last 180 minutes of play.

It’s been a span of 391:42 since Ohio State last gave up a goal (vs. FIU, Aug. 27).

BACK-TO-BACK B1G WINS The Buckeyes are off to a strong start to the Big Ten season with back-to-back shutout wins over Northwestern Sept. 8 and Penn State Sept. 12. In Evanston, Hunter Robertson scored a spectacular goal in the sixth minute off a corner from 30 yards out into the upper 90, while the OSU defense limited the Wildcats to five shots, including just one in the final 45 minutes. At home against the Nittany Lions, Niall Logue scored off a free kick in the 50th minute before Nate Kohl chalked up his first goal of the year six minutes later. Freshman Mitch Bergman scored his first collegiate goal in the 85th minute. The OSU defense limited Penn State to one shot on goal.

BIG TEN RANKINGSThe Buckeyes are tied for first in the conference in shutouts (5) and third in goals-against average (0.50). Joshua Jackson-Ketchup is tied for second in the league in goals per game (0.50) and tied for fourth in points per game (1.00). Parker Siegfried is tied for first in the conference in shutouts (5) and third in goals-against average (0.50).

SCOUTING RUTGERS The Scarlet Knights are 1-4-1 overall and 0-2 in league play. Rutgers has played one of the toughest schedules in the nation so far this year with all four losses coming against Top 15 opponents. Last time out, Maryland shut out Rutgers, 3-0, Sept. 12. Ethan Decker has five points to lead the team, while goalkeeper Rafael Pereira is 1-4-1 with one shutout on the season. Ohio State leads the all-time series, 3-1. Last season, the team won, 3-1, over the Scarlet Knights in Columbus.

BUCKEYES SWEEP BIG TEN WEEKLY AWARDSJoshua Jackson-Ketchup was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, while Parker Siegfried earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, the conference office announced last Sept. 5. Jackson-Ketchup, from Margate, Fla., scored three goals over the weekend to help Ohio State to two home victories. He scored both goals in the 2-0 win over Lehigh Sept. 1, including a strike from 30 yards out. The OSU rookie then sealed a 2-0 victory over Wright State with a late second-half goal Monday. Siegfried, from Granville, Ohio, chalked up back-to-back clean shutouts. He made three saves in the win over the Mountain Hawks and had two stops against the Raiders.

WOLSTEIN CLASSIC RECAPOhio State opened the 2017 season in thrilling fashion Aug. 25 when Michael Prosuk scored the game-winning goal in the 90th minute to beat Pitt 1-0. Marcus McCrary sent a rolling cross to the far post for Prosuk to score his first goal in a Scarlet and Gray uniform. Parker Siegfried made five saves for his fourth career shutout. In the Wolstein Classic finale, the Buckeyes fell, 3-0, against FIU last Sunday. Hunter Robertson and Kevin Blackwood were each honored on the Wolstein Classic All-Tournament Team. In all, nine members made their Buckeye debuts during the opening weekend.

FREE FOR ALLThe Buckeyes’ schedule includes 11 matches at Bert L. & Iris S. Wolstein Field at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium this season with home Big Ten action kicking off Sept. 12 against Penn State. Admission is free to all Ohio State men’s soccer regular-season home games.

HOME BROADCAST SCHEDULEOhio State will be shown on the Big Ten Network against Penn State Sept. 12 in Columbus. Ten additional regular season home games will be streamed online through BTN Plus with one remaining home game on BuckeyeVision on OhioStateBuckeyes.com. The semifinals and final of the Big Ten Tournament Nov. 10-12 also will be shown live on BTN.

THE COACHING STAFFOhio State is under the direction of 21st-year head coach John Bluem. The 2014 Big Ten Coach of the Year, Bluem has guided the team to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances (2000-01-04-05-07-08-09-10-14-15), four Big Ten championships (2000-07-09-15) and a College Cup Final in 2007. Bluem’s career record sits at 289-182-69 (.608) and has claimed four conference coach of the year awards (most by an active B1G coach). Bluem claimed his 200th win at Ohio State Sept. 1. He is assisted by Ian Gordona, who was promoted to associate head coach heading into his fourth season at his alma mater. Joining the staff this past off-season was assistant coach Adam Pearce, who will be coaching the Buckeye goalkeepers this fall. Matt Appel, a member of the 2016 team, will be a student assistant coach this fall.

UP NEXTOhio State returns to Columbus next week to host Bowling Green Sept. 22 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.